Legislation

Throughout this knowledge module, reference to certain provisions or sections of a piece of legislation, part of a legal judgment, or aspect of a practice does not imply that the legislation, judgment, or practice is considered in its entirety to be a good example or a promising practice.

Some of the laws cited herein may contain provisions which authorize the death penalty. In light of the United Nations General Assembly resolutions 62/149, 63/168, 65/206, and 67/176 calling for a moratorium on and ultimate abolition of capital punishment, the death penalty should not be included in sentencing provisions for crimes of violence against women and girls.

Other Provisions Related to Domestic Violence LawsResources for Developing Legislation on Domestic Violence
Sexual Harassment in Sport Tools for Drafting Sexual Harassment Laws and Policies
Immigration Provisions Resources for developing legislation on sex trafficking of women and girls
Child Protection Provisions Resources on Forced and Child Marriage
Other provisions related to dowry-related and domestic violence laws
Related Tools

Training for Legal Actors on Legal Reform and Succession

Last edited: February 27, 2011

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Legislation should mandate training on women’s human rights and on inheritance, land and property rights in police academies and law schools. Legislation should mandate continued and regular training on these topics for lawyers, police, judges and prosecutors. Training should be developed in coordination with or carried out by organizations that work with women and widows and aim to educate legal actors about the law and sensitize them to the maltreatment of widows and discrimination against women. For example, the Zimbabwe Widows and Orphans Trust Project facilitates weekly discussions, called “Widows’ Days,” during which widows meet with judges to inform them of the challenges they face. See: Widows, Inheritance and Human Rights

Sponsored by UNIFEM, Widows for Peace Through Democracy, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), NGO side event, Report, UN Commission on the Status of Women, New York, 4 March 2005.